Chiropractic Care - A Must For Moms To Be

Chiropractic Care - A Must For Moms-to-be:
“Chiropractors do not treat disease.” That’s the first thing a Chiropractor will tell you. The second thing they’ll correct you on is that they “don’t crack backs”. Now if they’re still speaking to you after that unforgivable faux pas, he/she will probably state (for the record, of course) “Our purpose is to assist in the proper function of the nervous and musculoskeletal system.” Now that’s a mouthful, but in layman’s terms what they’re really saying is – most of the health complaints you’ve got can be successfully treated with chiropractic care. I know, I know, it sounds like the “messiah” of the healthcare industry “Try us and you’ll never sneeze again!” But honestly, and not to come off sounding like the proverbial sheep on the “chiropractic pasture”, chiropractic has been boasting some major breakthroughs in the health complaints arena. Minor things like sinusitis, neck pain, ear-infections, chronic fatigue and joint pain have been successfully treated by utilizing chiropractic care. It has also been proven successful in treating ADHD, fibromyalgia, ulcers, IBS syndrome, epileptic seizures and asthma. Recently however, not only are adults benefiting from this type of care, moms-to-be and infants too, can receive “adjustments” correcting specific types of spinal misalignments.
Founded in 1986 by Larry Webster, D.C., the ICPA (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association) is the oldest and largest non-profit organization dedicated to the safety and efficacy of chiropractic care during pregnancy and childhood. The ICPA provides advanced training, ongoing education and cutting edge research into the field of pediatric chiropractic care. They also offer all this information to parents and interested parties. Here’s what the ICPA claims: newborns, more likely than not experience misalignment due to particular birthing methods (i.e. prolonged pushing, forceps or vacuum extraction and mother’s “missionary” position during birth). And you thought that breathing and pushing at the right intervals was all you needed to worry about during delivery! Not so, says the choir of chiropractors who provide care to infants and expectant mothers.
Dr. Alithea Corter, mother of two and co-owner of Bac To Health, a chiropractic office in Beverly Hills, maintains that, “As far as I’m concerned, all moms-to-be should have their spine and nervous systems checked. Bottom line, nerve interference is bad for the mom and equally bad for baby. Not only do I preach this to my patients but I followed my own advice. I was adjusted throughout my own two pregnancies not for back pain but for optimum comfort and piece of mind for me and my beautiful babies!”.
Not only are moms-to-be dealing with swollen breasts and ankles, their joints and nervous systems are getting the whammy put on them! The pelvis and spine undergoes several changes and adaptations trying to compensate for the growing baby inside. This poses an increased risk of interference to the nervous system. Chiropractic care can be employed to establish balance to the mother’s pelvis.
When delivery time comes, if a woman lies on her back, she works against gravity, requiring more stress and energy than necessary. This transfers to the muscles pushing the baby out. The poor little guy is in there getting squeezed and stretched, but the process increases that trauma because of the position of the mother. No wonder our great-grandmothers could pop one out and keep on going! They were squatting. Yet, another feather in the “squat-while-you-birth” hat.
While we’re on the subject of birthing, there has also been major success in assisting mothers with breech babies. The Webster Breech Turning Technique helps turn breech babies during pregnancy. This method, which is defined as a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system and facilitates biomechanical balance in pelvic structures, muscles and ligaments boasts an 82% success rate. Utilizing this technique enables mothers to avoid the costs and/or risks associated with ECV, C-Sections or the vaginal trial of a breech birth.
Now, what’s all this hoopla about conducting chiropractic adjustments on babies? Well, remember what I stated earlier about the squeezing and stretching? I don’t want to scare you, but no matter what kind of birth you have, natural to not-so-natural, misalignments can occur. A misalignment, or subluxation, can sometimes damage the nervous system. Subluxations can range from mild to more serious involving spinal cord damage, neural hemorrhage and central nervous system damage. This is called Nerves System Stress. Trust me, you don’t want it and you certainly don’t want your baby to have it.
Does your constantly crying baby have you singing the blues? Well, many new moms have sung the praises of chiropractic care when dealing with colicky babies. Research has shown that spinal manipulation is effective in treating infantile colic. Some research has even suggested that chiropractic care has significantly reduced the effects of ADHD and bedwetting in older children. Some children have shown an increase in immunity due to continued chiropractic treatments. The success stories come a dime-a-dozen but the health benefits are priceless.
Some moms-to-be are undoubtedly apprehensive about undergoing chiropractic care. Does it hurt? Will my unborn baby be harmed? These are valid questions. However, most pregos who take the leap, end up joining me as a proverbial sheep on the “chiropractic pasture”. I’ve seen the same results with parents of newborns. It’s kind of scary and nerve-wrecking at first, but after you get that baby home and she’s the angel you dreamed of when you first got pregnant…it’s all chiropractic bandwagon from there.
Do some online research and check out all the pros and cons of chiropractic care. Perhaps even visit a nearby chiropractic office. I’m sure the doctor (and yes, they are licensed doctors), will be more than happy to “educate” you on chiropractic procedures. Now that I mention it, I think it’s time for me to go get my back cracked…ah, I mean, go and get my spine realigned in order to assist in the proper function of my nervous and musculoskeletal system.